The Middle - Volume Two ✔️

Chapter 72

Jamie

I pull back from Patrick, because I can hear the band starting up again, and no one else is kissing anymore, so we shouldn't be either. We shouldn't have been kissing in the first place, but never mind that.

He's looking down at me with wide eyes, and I can see the struggle behind them. He's wondering what to do for the best in this moment, after kissing me like that. I'm shaken, and I don't really know what to do either. But, I will not allow my best friend to get weird with me. We are not making a big deal out of this! I can ignore how quick my pulse is racing and the fact that my heart feels like it's about to hammer right out of my chest. Fuck. I suddenly realise why Patrick's so popular with all the girls. Who kisses like that? I've never, ever felt that way before, just from a kiss. Shit.

"Jamie..." His voice is barely above a whisper. He's freaked out too, I know he is. I need to let him know that this is fine, we are not gonna be weird about it.

"Okay, bar. Now. We need another drink!" I say, my tone much chirpier than I'd intended it to be. I don't wait for him to answer me, because he's still looking at me like he's in pain. I whip around and rush back over to the bar. This is fine. We can ignore that weird moment. It's fine.

"Jamie, I think we should talk about...that." I hear his voice as he approaches me.

No, not happening.

I order a bottle of champagne and two shots of tequila. Yes. Tequila is necessary right now, it'll help calm my racing heart. Or make it worse. Whatever, I just need more alcohol. Patrick watches as the bar tender sets down my drinks. I pick up a shot, turn to face him, and take a deep breath.

"There's nothing to talk about. Here, do a shot with me." I say, holding the glass out to him. He frowns at me before reluctantly accepting it. I pick up the other shot and face him.

"Jamie, come on. That was..." He looks around, before sighing and downing the shot. Good. I down mine too.

"It was you doing me a favour. Thanks, dude." I insist, pouring out a couple of glasses of champagne.

"Yeah, but. You -" he looks around nervously before whispering the next part. "You kissed me again."

I was hoping he wouldn't focus on that.

How can I explain my actions to him, when the reason I kissed him again is purely because... I wanted to? I can't do this.

"Dude, it's fine. Pretend it never happened. Come on, don't get weird on me. Just...drink with me?" I smile and hold out a champagne glass to him. He doesn't look sure about this at all, for about half a second, before he smiles at me and accepts the drink. Thank fuck, awkward situation averted.

"More champagne? We don't even like this shit." He says with a small laugh before knocking the entire glass back in one. That's more like it.

"Yeah, but it's New Year's. We're celebrating. So, drink up." I say encouragingly, picking up my own glass and smiling at him.

This is good. We're gonna be normal with each other. So what if I can't stop thinking about those kisses, and staring at him like I've never seen him before, and hoping he won't sleep with his fucking shirt on tonight like he always seems to do with me? We're both tipsy, we did a stupid thing, we're over it now. It's not a problem. And even if it were, clearly, the solution is to just keep drinking...